8 July 2010
Fancy some hog and ale at the Hook Norton Brewery?

The Hook Norton Brewery in North Oxfordshire is hosting a tasting of its ales with a hog roast on Saturday 24 July at 6.45pm for 7pm start.
The pig is being prepared and spit-roasted by Kench Butchers from Chipping Norton.
Visitor Centre Manager Richard Hughes said: “The evening is the perfect opportunity to sample beers from Hook Norton’s range of award wining beers and learn a little about why they are so special.
“The evening also gives us an opportunity to show that Hook Norton beers are drinks of some sophistication, with a greater range of colours and flavours than wine.
“We believe our beers are perfect for partnering with many foods.
“The tasting includes Haymaker, at 5 per cent ABV, a clear, golden, summer ale, with a refreshing aroma and taste.
“Brewed from a blend of Maris Otter Pale Ale and Cara pils malts and a mix of Fuggles, Goldings and Challenger hops, its aroma is beautifully fragrant and fruity, featuring grapefruit, tangerine and peach.
“The quality and depth of its taste should make it an ideal accompaniment to the sweet flavour of the roasted meat” he said.
Entrance is by ticket only, which can be purchased in advance for £10.00 from the Visitor Centre. To make a booking call 01608 730384 or pop in to the Hook Norton Brewery Visitor Centre.
The price of admission includes a tutored tasting of Hook Norton’s award winning ales, then a portion of roasted hog and two halves of Hooky beer of your choice.

Going, going – the scaffoldings gone
The outside of the Hook Norton brewery is back to normal as the work to replace the roof above the coppers has been completed and the scaffolding has been taken down.
The end of the restoration work, is good news for the many visitors who want to take a pictures of the historic Victorian Tower brewery as the listed building now look much as it did when it was opened in 1895.
The essential work had to be undertaken once it was discovered much of the woodwork in the roof of the Victorian tower brewery needed replacing.
Tours of the brewery have to booked in advance and take place at 9.30am, 11.00am and 2.30pm on Monday- Friday. Saturday 10.30am and 2.30pm. Each tour takes about two hours and includes a tasting of Hook Norton beers. Tours cost £9.50 per person.
The Brewery Visitors Centre, Brewery Lane, Hook Norton OX15 5NY is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.00pm and on Saturdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
For information on the Hook Norton Visitor Centre or to book a tour of the brewery contact Richard Hughes on 01608 730384 or go to www.hooky.co.uk. Email: vc@Hook-Norton-Brewery.co.uk.

Royal Oak customers celebrate the end of a charity cycle ride for Different Strokes with a pint of the best long drink in the world – Hooky Bitter
Eight customers of the Royal Oak in Whatcote, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire toast their successful completion of a charity cycle ride of more than 325 miles with a pint off the best long drink in the world – Hooky Bitter.
“Out of shape, over aged and with more goodwill than sense,” they cycled from Land's End to the Royal Oak pub in Whatcote to raise money for Different Strokes, a charity for young stroke survivors. The journey took them five days.
Led by Mike Druce, who had two strokes when he was aged 32, they raised more than £3,700 - and more money is promised.
Stroke is the single largest cause of disability in the UK. 10,000 people under the age of 55 suffer a stroke every year - 1,000 of these are under the age of 30. Different Strokes is a registered charity providing a unique, free service to younger stroke survivors.
Mike said: “Thanks to the support of Ronnie and Penny at the Royal Oak we got wonderful promotional support from the Hook Norton Brewery.
“Ronnie and Penny put on a home coming party for us. We ate, we drank, we told wild tales of our adventure and had a wonderful, wonderful evening.
“I got a bit emotional at the end of the evening because Ronnie & Penny gave Different Strokes £200. I was very touched.”
To make a donation go to http://CycleLandsEndToOxhill.blogspot.com/
For more information on Different Strokes please visit its website: http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/
Ends
For information on Hook Norton contact Managing Director James Clarke on 01608 737210.